Category Archives: Health

For the past 2 years, I have had difficulty controlling my blood pressure. When I am stressed, it spikes. I thought it was job stress. When my doctor recommended blood pressure medication, that’s when it became serious for me. When I went to the pharmacy to fill the prescription, the pharmacist requested to speak with me about the medication, which was unusual. Never before had a pharmacist requested to speak to me about a medication! The prescription was for 10mg of Amlodipine. The pharmacist asked about my blood pressure, and I told him what I had experienced over the last couple of years. He cautioned me that Amlodipine was a “calcium channel blocker,” which opens the arteries to improve blood flow. The most important statement he made to me was that once you start taking these types of drugs, you cannot get off. My doctor told me that I may only have to take the Amlodipine for 6 months, until my blood pressure stabilized. The pharmacist also told me that Amlodipine has 3 side effects:

Dizziness upon standing up

Swollen ankles or swollen lower legs

Lack of energy

I told the pharmacist that it was always important to me to avoid having to take any medication on a regular basis. He responded that I needed to be very aware of my diet. He mentioned that canned foods have lots of sodium and preservatives that can increase my blood pressure. BINGO! For the last few years, I have been eating canned beans everyday for lunch and dinner. My reason was to add fiber and protein to my diet, and to lose weight. The beans helped me to meet both goals. However, I failed to notice the amount of sodium per serving.

The FDA recommends no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day. When I added up my sodium intake per day, it was 2,000 mg! I was shocked and relieved. Now, I had the answer to stabilizing my blood pressure without taking medications. My daily goal is to cut my sodium intake in half, so I am cooking Bulk Dried Navy Beans – Non GMO (Three Pounds) myself instead of buying them in a can. I cut my daily Special K Cereal, Original, 18-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 3) breakfast to one cup of cereal instead of 2 cups. Even the 2% Lactaid milk has 125 mg of sodium per cup! I am looking at the label of everything I eat to make sure I stay below my daily goal! I am determined to avoid having to take blood pressure medication. Join us at TheFiftyPlusNetwork as we get healthy!

If you are over 50, and you have a health experience you would like to share, please share by joining us at The Fifty Plus Network:

I fell in love with the ocean when I was a child. Both of my parents enjoyed trips to the beach, so we went often. Whenever I feel stressed, I do my best to get to the ocean! The first mesmerizing vision is the way the ocean extends to the horizon … as far as the eye can see, whether you are looking straight ahead, to the left, or to the right, there is nothing but a huge mass of moving water. Focus on the waves coming ashore, and how the water moves back into the ocean … rhythmically … moving back and forth … back and forth … It is so powerful and encompassing …

A photo posted by thefiftyplusnetwork (@thefiftyplusnetwork) on May 30, 2016 at 5:25pm PDT

My fourth and favorite ocean sensation is digging my fingers and toes into the sand! It reminds me of being a kid and playing in the sand! Remember when you would sit on the beach and your friend or sibling would try to cover you with sand? The sand is a natural remedy for rough skin. Rub some sand on your hands and feet and watch how soft they feel afterwards!

My fifth way to absorb the benefits of the ocean is to taste the fresh seafood that comes from the ocean! We see fisherman casting their lines to catch their breakfast or dinner. The ocean yields an abundance of nutritious seafood such as fish, clams, oysters, scallops, lobster, shrimp,and many more!

If you are over 50, and you have discovered another way the ocean is a natural healer, please share by joining us at The Fifty Plus Network:

No truer words were ever said … These words were forcefully delivered by Steve Harvey on his daytime Steve Harvey Show. The topic was fitness, specifically the ECTORcise mother and daughter personal trainers, Gymnetics Fitness Presents ECTORcise The Challenge Vol. 1. Believe it or not, the mother is 63 years old! Her body looks toned and fit! The takeaway from the show was to move your body and eat healthy! For those of us who are over 50, it is extremely important to remind ourselves on a daily basis — our health is our wealth! Every time we put something in our mouths, we need to ask, “What affect will this have on my body?” When we eat something we know is fatty, sugary and delicious, we need to walk it off! Do some type of exercise to counteract the pleasure (and calories) of our favorite snack! Whenever we have the opportunity to talk to older relatives and

Photo Courtesy: www.pexels.com

friends, we always hear that the key to physical fitness and health is to move your body every single day. Even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes, a briskwalk or stretches will make your muscles and tendons more supple. For example, I took a few days off this week because I wasn’t feeling well. I stopped doing my daily floor/core exercises. When I went to the doctor, I carried a bag with my ice water, magazine, etc. The next morning, my upper arm was hurting and I couldn’t figure out why. I thought back to everything I lifted and remembered the bag I took to the doctor’s office. If I had been doing my floor/core exercises and stretches, my muscles and tendons would have been stretched, supple, and ready to lift! As fitness-focused as I am, even I need a reminder every now and then!

A fun and inexpensive way to work your whole body is dancing! You can dance almost anywhere, with or without music!

We recently read an article where several doctors were asked for health tips to live a long life. One doctor said to eat a vegetable at every meal, even breakfast.

We are always looking for natural health solutions. Why? 3 important reasons:

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs have side effects

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be very expensive

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be ineffective

Several years ago, my doctor prescribed Zetia since I had high cholesterol. The pills were very small and fairly inexpensive, but I was hesitant to take prescription drugs. I took a few of the Zetia, but decided I would rather change my diet to reduce my cholesterol. It took many years to change my diet, lose weight, and reduce my cholesterol, but I accomplished my goal! In the meantime, studies discovered that Zetia was ineffective. It did not reduce cholesterol at all. If I had continued to take Zetia, I would have spent lots of money over the years, and my liver would have had to process Zetia for no reason at all. For details on Zetia, click here. One of the most effective spices is Tumeric. We use it to add flavor and health benefits to our Navy Bean recipe. For 10 proven health benefits of Tumeric, click here. For 9 spices and herbs that improve your health, click here. For more on healing spices click Healing Spices: How to Use 50 Everyday and Exotic Spices to Boost Health and Beat Disease.

If you are over 50, and have a natural health tip to share, please share your tip by joining us at The Fifty Plus Network:

We are in the midst of a Winter Blizzard in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S.! We have 16 inches of snow on the ground and we are expecting 12 more inches! The weather forecasters predicted 40 to 60 mph winds, which would guarantee massive power outages. Fortunately, the winds have not materialized yet, so we still have power. A pleasant surprise is neighbors are helping neighbors. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the daily routines of life, that we forget to look outward and help others. What a heartwarming feeling to look outside and see our neighbors help one another!

#Blizzard2016

We are being very careful about shoveling and not overextending ourselves. Shoveling snow can be a major cause of heart attacks, so we work a little bit, then rest. For those of us over 50, it is extremely important to protect our health! If there is an emergency,it is virtually impossible for the emergency vehicles to get to our home. Therefore, we are drinking lots of water, eating healthy, minimizing alcohol consumption, and most important, taking breaks. We will continue to update this post as we make our way through the Blizzard of 2016!

If you are over 50, and have a tip or experience you’d like to share about surviving a blizzard, please share your tip by joining us at The Fifty Plus Network:

I work with a 47 year old woman who loves to eat. She is a single woman with no children, so she spends quite a bit of her free time going out to eat with her friends. Every Monday morning, she tells me about her weekend, which consists of eating at a local restaurant. She tells me what they had to drink, typically alcoholic drinks, and what they ate. They usually eat salty, fatty foods. Maybe she likes to tell me because I take my lunch to work everyday, and I try to eat healthy. I also try to exercise 30 minutes per day. She told me that she wants to lose weight, and hired 2 personal trainers over the past year. She quit each time the exercising became too strenuous for her. I told her she didn’t need to spend money on personal trainers. All she needs to do is start walking 10 minutes per day. Walking is free. Walking is healthy. A brisk walk will increase your heart rate.

Several days ago, she became ill after eating buffalo wild wings and onion rings. She spent the weekend nauseous and vomiting. She even tried to eat more buffalo wild wings and onion rings the next day, but didn’t have much of an appetite. She also experienced excessive thirst and frequent trips to the bathroom. When she came to work, she looked weak and disoriented. I asked her if she was feeling well and she told me about her weekend. I asked her if she was going to see her doctor, and she said yes. I was relieved, and thought to myself “thank goodness.” I had an experience with a diabetic co-worker several years ago. She suffered a diabetic seizure at work and I had to call 911, put a spoon in her mouth so she wouldn’t swallow her tongue, and keep an eye on her until the paramedics arrived. It was a scary and stressful experience for me and I didn’t want to go through it again!

I asked my co-worker what time her doctor’s appointment and she said 4pm. It was 3pm and she looked horrible. I suggested she leave early and she agreed. The next morning, she called into work and told us that she was in the emergency room at the hospital. Her glucose (blood sugar) was over 600! I was shocked and scared! Scared for her and every person who has diabetes. Diabetes is an epidemic in the U.S.A. The Centers for Disease Control designated the southeastern region of the U.S.A. as the “Diabetes Belt.” Commitment to diet and exercise is a daily challenge. I sincerely hope my co-worker successfully recovers and heals. I hope she can make the commitment to improve her diet and exercise at least 30 minutes per day. I certainly plan to encourage her.

If you are over 50 and have diabetes or know someone who does, please share your feelings or concerns with us at The Fifty Plus Network:

My feet have been hurting for months … Ouch! Every time I stand up to walk or get out of bed in the morning, they hurt! Naturally, I’ve been trying to figure out what is causing the pain. Am I carrying too much on a daily basis (heavy briefcase, heavy bags)? Am I driving too much? Is it arthritis? I have been hesitant to see a podiatrist because I see doctors so often! I have been soaking my feet in warm water and Epsom salts, which does provide temporary relief. However, I am looking for a more permanent solution. I really don’t look forward to seeing a podiatrist about my foot pain, so I decided to search the Internet to learn about the causes and treatments. As I was searching the Internet, I keep thinking of all the reasons I wanted a simple, free foot pain treatment:

No hour-long, stressful drive downtown to see my podiatrist

No $20 parking fee to park downtown

No medication and possible side effects

No time-consuming and expensive physical therapy

No need to use 4 hours of sick leave for doctor’s appointment and round-trip commute

If you are approaching or over 50, and you are looking for a rewarding hobby that brings joy to your life and improves your physical and mental health, gardening is it! In this age of smartphones, social media, and video games, gardening gets you outside so you can breath in fresh air, and feel the rays of sunshine on your skin. If you have little to no experience with planting, fertilizing, and pruning, there are numerous resources available.

A post shared by thefiftyplusnetwork (@thefiftyplusnetwork) on Jun 7, 2017 at 7:24am PDT

Physical activities such as digging holes, carrying gardening supplies, and walking will help burn calories and build muscles! After planting and watering, you can sit back and admire your work! Beautiful plants, shrubs and trees will benefit your landscape for years to come. To learn more more about the physical and mental benefits of gardening, click here.

Travel is good for the mind, body, and soul. Traveling can be expensive, however there are 3 reasons to add travel to your hobbies or bucket list:

Traveling gives you an opportunity to explore new places, which piques your interest in the world around you.

Traveling gives you an opportunity to reconnect with your loved one. Spending time reconnecting helps you remember why you were attracted to your partner in the first place! You begin to see your mate in a new, refreshed light.

Figuring out how to find your way around a new location gives your brain something new to think about. When the brain learns news things (cognitive stimulation), it grows new brain cells. It also helps bring you closer to one another because it takes teamwork to navigate new areas, especially if you are over 50. K-Y Yours and Mine Couples Lubricant, 3 Ounce

To minimize travel expenses, use your AARP membership card to receive 10% discounts at hotels and restaurants. We have an aunt and uncle who travel all over the world. To save on the food bill, they share meals. Restaurants pile up so much food on your plate, that you can easily request an extra plate and split the meal in two. It minimizes your caloric intake and reduces your restaurant bill! If you are embarrassed to ask the waiter for an extra plate, use your bread or appetizer plate instead.

If you live east of the Mississippi River in the U.S.A., you can save money by driving the 8 to 10 hours to Myrtle Beach. A few tanks of gas is much cheaper than airfare.

If you are over 50 and have discovered the advantages of travel, please share your thoughts by joining us at The Fifty Plus Network:

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